Accused Russian agent Butina expected to plead guilty in Washington
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A woman accused of acting as a Russian agent to infiltrate the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group and influence US policy toward Moscow is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Thursday in a deal that could help prosecutors gain insight iAccused Russian agent Butina expected to plead guilty in Washington
A woman accused of acting as a Russian agent to infiltrate the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group and influence US policy toward Moscow is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Thursday in a deal that could help prosecutors gain insight into Russian efforts to meddle in American politics. Maria Butina, a Russian former graduate student at American University in Washington who has publicly advocated for gun rights, is slated to change her plea from not guilty to guilty in a hearing before Judge Tanya Chutkan in US District Court in Washington. Butina was charged in July with acting as an agent of Russia's government and conspiracy to take actions on behalf of Moscow. As part of the plea agreement, she is expected to cooperate with prosecutors during an ongoing investigation, according to US media reports. Prosecutors have accused Butina, who was jailed awaiting trial, of working with a Russian official and two US citizens to try to infiltrate the NRA, a group closely aligned with Republican politicians including President Donald Trump, and sway Washington's policy toward Moscow. Butina's lawyers previously identified the Russian official as Alexander Torshin,... Read more